November 16, 2007
by Joe Venniro

Men’s Hockey Hosts Mercyhurst Today and Saturday

Head Coach Wayne Wilson vying for his 150th victory

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RIT men’s hockey Head Coach Wayne Wilson will be looking to win his 150th career game at the helm of the Tigers this weekend.

The RIT men’s hockey team hosts the Mercyhurst Lakers Friday, Nov. 16, and Saturday, Nov. 17, at Ritter Arena in the first of four meetings between the two teams this season. Both games start at 7:05 p.m.

RIT is the defending Atlantic Hockey regular season champions, while Mercyhurst was the 2006 regular season champion. Head Coach Wayne Wilson needs one win to become the second coach in the history of the RIT men’s hockey program to reach 150 victories.

RIT (3-4-0, 2-2-0 Atlantic Hockey) comes into the weekend contests looking to move up in the Atlantic Hockey standings. Last weekend, the Tigers split two games against Air Force at Ritter Arena. The Tigers fell 2-1 in overtime on Nov. 9 and scored four first period goals en route to a 4-3 win on Nov. 10. Senior Matt Smith (Toronto) scored three goals in the two weekend games, while sophomore goaltender Louis Menard (Chicoutimi, Quebec) made 64 saves.

Mercyhurst (1-8-1, 1-2-1 Atlantic Hockey) enters the weekend looking to snap a three-game losing streak. Five of the eight Mercyhurst losses have come against nationally ranked teams. Last weekend, the Lakers lost two games—both by 6-2 scores—at defending national champion Michigan State, in Lansing, Mich.

RIT leads the all-time series between the two clubs 19-11-3 overall and 3-2-0 since RIT made the jump to Division I in 2005. Last season, the Tigers won the season series 3-1 and outscored the Lakers 18-13. RIT won 5-2 and 6-4 at Mercyhurst in December, while the two teams split the final regular season meetings (6-5 RIT, 2-1 Mercyhurst) at Ritter Arena in February.

RIT has averaged 2,050 fans in its four home dates at the Ritter Arena (capacity 2,100) this season.

NOTE: Tickets are available at the Gordon Field House and Activities Center Box Office or by phone at (585) 475-4121. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for alumni, faculty and staff, and $4 for students with ID.